On the same day that Vail Resorts released the opening days for several ski areas, Mother Nature reminded us that those days are not too far away. Snow plows from the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) were deployed to clear Interstate 15 in Lindon, Utah, after a severe hailstorm caused significant disruptions on August 13, reports KUTV. The storm, which brought inch-sized hail and heavy rain, led to the closure of two right lanes and the shoulder of northbound I-15 at mile marker 274. This blockage resulted in traffic backups extending three miles to the 800 North exit in Orem. Southbound traffic faced even longer delays, stretching five miles to State Street in Lehi.
UDOT issued an alert at 6:30 p.m. advising drivers to seek alternate routes due to high water on the interstate from Lehi to Orem. By 8 p.m., snow plows were clearing the hail from the southbound lanes, followed by the northbound lanes shortly after. It required 8-10 passes to fully clear the lanes, which reopened by 8:30 p.m.
Meteorologist Chase Thomason reported that the storm ended two days of active weather, with drier conditions expected by Thursday. However, monsoon weather is anticipated to return over the weekend, potentially bringing more isolated storms near the Idaho border.
Just when you thought snowplow season was over, Mother Nature decided to hail a little surprise. 🌨️ pic.twitter.com/bIvDvHWczp
— Utah DOT (@UtahDOT) August 14, 2024
